WESTFIELD -The Westfield Cultural Council (WCC) has released results of the annual community input survey conducted in June, asking 
residents about arts and cultural programs in the city.
Amy Tosi, chair of the WCC since 2015, said over 200 community members weighed in on the survey during the Westfield on Weekends Artwalk, at the Westfield Farmer’s Market and online at Survey Monkey. The responses help the Council to determine the grant applications to fund in the upcoming grant cycle made possible through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which allocates funds annually to Westfield for the purpose of supporting arts and cultural events and programs in Westfield.
This year’s survey asked five questions ranging from residents’ awareness of the grant program (127 people replied yes, 96 no), to which events should be supported.
Current arts and cultural programs deemed most valuable included Music on the Green, which received a majority of the votes, Westfield Creative Arts, programs at the Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield on Weekends, and the Westfield Farmer’s Market. Tosi noted that last year’s grant cycle funded the music at the Farmer’s Market this year.
When asked what’s missing, or what residents want more of, answers included live music and concerts, activities for adults including writing, painting and cooking classes, more venues and galleries, more youth and teen events, and more businesses related to arts and culture, such as a movie theater.
Of the priorities listed for possible funding next year, public events like concerts and festivals received the most votes, followed by arts in the schools, support for community and cultural organizations, support for projects led by local artists and youth art programs outside of school. Also receiving a fair amount of votes were environmental education projects, which are not really covered under the grant, according to Tosi.
When asked how residents hear about cultural activities in the city, the top three sources (all receiving more than 100 nods) were word of mouth, social media and The Westfield News.
Finally, when asked for additional comments, the top responses included expressions of gratitude for the work of the WCC, and requests for more publicity for events, more festivals and more of everything.
Tosi said the Westfield Cultural Council is having a rebirth of sorts. When she came on two years ago, there was the bare minimum of five members, making it hard to get anything done. Under Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, approximately fifteen members have been appointed within the last six to seven months.
“The Mayor is very supportive,” Tosi said.
She said the survey will be used to help determine which projects to fund out of grant applications received this fall. In the past, the Massachusetts Cultural Council has given approximately $20,000 per year to the WCC, which in turn disburses the money to local arts and cultural programs.
Other past grant recipients have included special programs at the Westfield Athenaeum, theater and music productions at Westfield State University, and several choral productions. The complete listing of last year’s recipients is on the city website under Westfield Cultural Council.
“We are working towards supporting cultural events in the city. It’s very exciting, because there are so many wonderful things going on. This is a good resource for cultural growth in Westfield,” Tosi said.
New this year, will be an online application for the grant. In order to help people apply, the Westfield Cultural Council will be offering a workshop at the Athenaeum on Monday, September 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
This year’s grant cycle begins on September 1 and Closes October 17. For more information, visit www.mass-culture.org or the Cultural Council’s page on the city of Westfield website.
